Parmida Home is particularly known for its showroom vignettes of furniture, décor and exquisite tabletops.Photos Courtesy of Parmida Home

By Jean MurphyDaily Herald Correspondent

Parmida Home, an up-and-coming retailer of affordable home luxuries, furniture, rugs, gifts and more, will open its second Northwest suburban store in early December at Randhurst Village in Mount Prospect.

The Dallas-based home furnishings chain has already gained an enthusiastic local following at its South Barrington store, located in The Arboretum shopping center.

The store showcases distinctive home decor, wine and cheese accessories, imported coffees and teas, bath and body collections, kitchen accessories, dinnerware, candles, gourmet and other gift merchandise, as well as furniture and rugs.

Parmida Home is particularly known for its showroom vignettes of furniture, décor, fountains and exquisite tabletops. There is literally something for every taste -- whether it's an intimate setting, a formal gathering at home or a holiday event.

"We provide everything you might need for a home or patio from rattan items to transitional pieces," said Siotha Vest, general manager of the privately-owned retailer. "Parmida Home offers the finishing touches you need for the social areas of your home, and if we need to special order a piece of furniture, we pride ourselves on working with manufacturers who offer a quick turnaround of no more than six to eight weeks."

The chain also operates a store in South suburban Orland Park. The company goes to great lengths to research new locations, Vest said.

"Our success is being anchored in lifestyle shopping centers that have social spaces and activities in suburban and metro areas," she said. "We have hand-picked our centers and locations based on a complex demographics formula.

"Most of our customers are sociable, college-degreed people from higher-end homes who like to entertain," she added. "Many are people whose children are grown and who are now ready to grow beyond family life.

Ribbonwick candles, made by the Virginia Candle Company, can barely be kept in local stores, Vest said.

These fashionable candles in ceramic or metal containers contain a proprietary, patent-pending wick that creates a mesmerizing, ribbonlike "dancing" flame.

According to the manufacturer, "as the candlelight dances across the pool of highly scented wax, it creates an intriguing ambience unlike any other candle on the market."

This distinctive effect, coupled with elegant new home décor vessels, results in a stunning "centerpiece" focal point that will transform any room.

"We expect the Ribbonwick candle to be our No. 1 holiday seller," Vest said. "It has an unusual wick that creates the sound of a crackling fire and it is highly aromatic because it burns smoothly throughout the entire life of the candle. They cost between $25 and $60 per candle."

Candles that make a home décor statement have gained importance in the candle market as the visual appeal of candles is considered an important selling point.

Lifetime candles are another example. They are actually clear paraffin oil lamps filled with decorative flowers, berries, greens, fruits or vegetables. They are "gorgeous whether they are burning or not," Vest said. They run anywhere from $85 to $400, depending on the size.

Another hot category this year is cheese boards with tool kits. The bamboo cutting boards are cut into shapes like apples and pianos with drawers in the cutting board containing accessories like cheese knives. Those with two drawers include wine bottle accessories to go with your cheese. They retail for between $20 and $65.

Fashionistas on your gift list will love the ceramic wine bottle holders that look like fancy stiletto-heeled shoes. Some are even bejeweled for the holidays.

Chip chillers, which have ceramic bowls for chips and smaller double-bowled dip containers, provide a space for ice to keep the dip cold for two to three hours. They are another popular item this season, Vest said. Other popular hostess items include a decorative olive dipping set and a pasta bowl, made by Certified International.

Small ceramic tea sets for up to six people, gift boxed in decorative hat boxes, range in price from $15 to $45. They include a teapot, cups and plates for varying numbers of people and have been named as one of Oprah Winfrey's "favorite things," Vest said.

Old World ceramic and cast aluminum filigree kitchen items like canisters, lazy Susans and more are perfect for a Tuscan-themed home or for someone who likes distinctive, ornate accent pieces. The items from the GG Collection include mouth-blown glass components, chip-resistant ceramic, dishwasher-safe dinnerware and are bake-safe up to 400 degrees.

"We also carry gorgeous artesian vases, made in Mexico of recycled glass. These are great accent pieces for any home," Vest said.

For more information about Parmida Home, visit www.parmidahome.com. Local stores are located at 100 W. Higgins Rd., South Barrington (in The Arboretum) and at 63 Randhurst Village Dr., Mount Prospect (soft opening on Dec. 1; grand opening, Dec. 8).

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